Viz is staying current with developments in Japan in their Shonen Jump Alpha digital magazine; this week’s issue includes the final chapter of Bakuman, and in two weeks they will start carrying the new Rurouni Kenshin series, Rurouni Kenshin Reboot.
Erin and Noah talk to Felipe Smith, the creator of Peepo Choo, about his life as an American manga-ka in Japan in the latest Ninjaconsultant podcast.
The Manga Bookshelf bloggers discuss their picks of the week.
Lissa Pattillo takes a look at Digital’s latest batch of new licenses.
Richard Bruton posts a preview of vol. 3 of Summit of the Gods, illustrated by Jiro Taniguchi, at the Forbidden Planet blog.
Khursten Santos has a quick look at some of Mitsuru Adachi’s art for his new series, Mix.
Three Steps Over Japan peeks inside the covers of Jump SQ.
Happy blogiversary to Kate Dacey, The Manga Critic, who is celebrating her third anniversary by giving away some omnibuses.
News from Japan: Saturn Apartments manga-ka Hirae Iraoka is working on a new series, Narihirabashi Denki Shoten (Narihirabashi Electric Appliance Store), which will run in Kodansha’s Evening magazine. The relaunch of K-ON! will come to an end in June, and Claymore will reach its last chapter in the June issue of Jump Square.
Reviews: The Manga Bookshelf team starts the week with a new set of Bookshelf Briefs. Ash Brown queues up a week’s worth of brief manga reviews at Experiments in Manga.
David Gromer on vol. 2 of Cage of Eden (Graphic Novel Resources)
Khursten Santos on vol. 1 of Flowers of Evil (Otaku Champloo)
Kristin on vol. 13 of Black Bird and vol. 14 of Kimi ni Todoke (Comic Attack)
Rebecca Silverman on vol. 1 of Skip Beat! (omnibus edition) (ANN)
Anna on vol. 7 of The Story of Saiunkoku (Manga Report)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 7 of The Story of Saiunkoku (The Comic Book Bin)
Lori Henderson on vols. 11-15 of The Wallflower (Manga Xanadu)
